Nifty News

Faithful Followers

Sunday, November 8, 2009

From Chicago, the city that had its first day of summer this weekend, it's Sunday Sound Out starring the ultimate winner of the fun-filled game Balderdash, Dawn Meehan!

How are things going with you and Joe? I would love to hear how everything is at your house and how I can pray for you both and the kids specifically.Things suck, but I'm doing what I have to do for me and the kids. But it's ok because God is amazing and can use any situation for good.

How much one on one Mommy time does she [Brooklyn] have now?We have all morning, just the two of us. Sometimes we run errands, sometimes we go to the library, sometimes we go back and snuggle in bed while watching Little Bear tapes. We always read 50,000 books and usually play dolls. She's very cuddly and sweet and I'll miss her when she goes to school.

Look at how organized your videos are! Was this the 30 seconds following straightening them? Mine NEVER stay that neat for very long!Yeah, I'm a little insane about organizing stuff like that. The more things in my life that I can't control, the more obsessed I get about organizing my house.

Advice: How does one keep preschoolers from trying to sit on the bagging area. It's some sort of gravity field, some of impossible temptation.... Duct tape them in the grocery cart.Dawn,they don't make half gallons of ice cream anymore.Lise Of course they do. Every store I shop at sells store brands of ice cream in half gallon boxes.

Does your library have self-check?I think so, but I've never used it. There's never a line to check out books, so I've not looked into the self-check there. The last time I was at my library, I grabbed my book off the shelf and signed it to the library! Hee heeSpeaking of, you can still get a signed copy of Because I Said So HERE.

How do you use your own bags in self check? Honestly, the self check-outs I usually use are at Jewel (local grocery store) and they have a mini conveyor belt that leads to a bagging area (that isn't a scale). After ringing up my order, I just move down and bag my groceries in whatever bags I want to use. And unlike 98% of all humankind, I know how to use the order divider so the next person in line can start ringing up their order while I pack mine.

Dawn - I'm very excited to take my family to this amazing show [Zing Zang Zoom circus]. I'm having troubles entering the MOM code for the discount. Can you provide any more information as to which spot on the ticketmaster screen we enter this. I'm fairly computer savvy and have tried a few possibilities and it will not show the discount price. Any input would be greatly appreciated.Meghan would be happy to walk anyone through the process to ensure you get your discount. Feel free to email her at mdaly@momcentral.com.

We celebrated my oldest son's birthday this weekend. Well, at least some of us did. My mom is mad at me so she refused to come. Apparently she talked my grandmother out of attending as well. sigh The rest of us had fun though. Our close friends stayed late while we played Pictionary and Balderdash and had a terrific time. I hadn't laughed so hard in a long time. The kids were absolutely hilarious. It's nice now that most of them are old enough to join in the games.

Here's my big 15-year-old who now towers over me.

The 14 inch tall cake...

frosted orange...

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?Austin thought the cake was cool, but didn't eat a single bite. He doesn't actually like cake. Maybe next year I'll decorate a cheesecake or a pie for him.

Austin didn't eat the cake, but as I sat here typing this, I noticed Clay get out of bed and walk through the kitchen 3 times. I finally went to see what his deal was and why he kept getting up to go to the bathroom. Know what he was doing? Every time he walked through the kitchen, he reached out and grabbed a handful of cake on his way back to bed. Stinker!

What did Austin do to them. I hate when adults punish kids for something that has nothing to do with them. I would imagine that the kids are having a hard enough time without having Grandma not show up for their special events.

Glad to hear Austin's party went well. I love seeing the pictures of his cake. Do you use something,(like a picture), to help you design these cakes or do you use a pre-made pattern ? You are so talented!

Okay, that cake is awesome. What a great job you did. I am sorry for all the trouble you are having. For the first ten years of our marriage I had similar issues with drinking and lying. After my husband handed it over to God everything gradually improved to where you wouldn't even think he was the same man. God can change everything. I pray that happens for you.BlessingsDiane

Hi Dawn,I pray for you regularly. I'm in a very similar situation to yours and I just try and take it one day at a time to make sure I have some semblance of sanity and that my kids aren't caught up in our marital issues. It's so hard!

Anyway, I wanted to mention that your SSO question from another reader about ice cream containers is correct. Most ice cream containers are no longer 1/2 gallons; rather, they have shrunk the size down to 1.75 or even 1.5 quarts! Check it out next time you're at the store. Prices may not have gone up, but they decreased the size instead hoping the consumer wouldn't notice. Pretty sneaky, eh? Of course if you end up eating the whole container by yourself you can console yourself by saying at least it wasn't an entire 1/2 gallon - not that I've ever done that! ;-)

Dawn, I love the pineapple cake! Does your Mom read this blog? If so, I hope she reads comments. Here is my comment for her: You don't not go to your grandson's birthday party because you are mad at his mother. That is horrible! Pretty sad that Brooklyn is more mature than your mother at the moment.

My dad doesn't like cake, and when there are birthdays on the 21st, 25th and 26th of November and Thanksgiving falls in there somewhere, so he always had a birthday pumpkin pie. Also when I was a kid we didn't get a party, but we got to pick everything for a Sunday Dinner, yes an old-fashioned Sunday dinner, my nephew, March 1st bd, chose Thanksgiving dinner.

Hate to tell you, dear, but the half gallon cartons of ice cream? They're only 1.5-1.75 gallon now. I noticed this started happening a few years ago, and now they are all that way. Like we need to be psyched out any more than our kids already try on us!

Your son is getting so tall and handsome! Too bad about the grandmas. People should be able to set things aside for their grandchild's birthday. At least the rest of you had fun. Awesome cake! You are so talented!

Happy Birthday Austin! On a sad note, it is very petty that your mom and g'ma did not attend their grandson's birthday. No adult should use a celebration of life as a weapon in getting back at a person. Life is way to short. I hope things get better with your family. I pray for you and your entire family. I really hope Austin wasn't hurt by their actions. Keep your head up Dawn.

I am praying that your Mom can resolve her "mad" and can communicate. Sometimes we parents have to proffer our opinion and then step aside to let our grown children make their decisions.

It's very difficult for someone who doesn't walk in your shoes, sleep in your bed, or live day to day in your home to have a true picture. Right now you need support and your children need Grandma. If I remember correctly she got a little (or maybe a lot) ticked at what you expressed in one of your emails regarding Joe's difficulties after surgery. I do hope that this is not still fallout from that.

I'm praying for her and for your family to look past the differences and mend some fences.

Dawn,I was shocked to see how grown up Austin looked in the picture you posted! How's he doing in school now that he's had time to adjust to the honors classes?

Stores around here are still selling 1/2 gallons of ice cream, too. But I've noticed a few brands have gone to the 1.5 quart size.

I hope things start to look up with you and Joe soon. "May the God of hope fill you with ALL joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 always encourages me. I hope it encourages you too.

Nice cake it looks awesome It's nice to know i'm not the only person that has a kid that will not eat cake my 9 year old does not care for it much or get this she doesnt like CHOCOLATE either weirdo i know sasha-bctx

Love the pineapple cake - very clever. Love the self check-outs, too, but I always take my son with me the first time I use one that's different from others I've already used. I watch him and then the next visit I know how it works and don't hold up the line and can still hold my head up in line. (He's 39 and techno savvy - I'm 60 and beyond help until I see how it works). I'd take notes if I had to 'cause I'm up for anything that gets me out of the store faster once I've finished my shopping, even if it does mean taxing my brain to its limits.

Just a thought: You hinted some time ago that you think Jackson got his ADHD from Joe. People with ADHD often have addiction problems. That lying thing reminds me of myself (I have ADD, too, and I'm an adult). Maybe an ADHD treatment would help?

I'm not a praying person, but I wish you and your family all the best. (English is not my mother language, so please excuse my mistakes.)

nope, Dawn is right - several store brands still sell half gallons, and so does Blue Bell :) Awesome cake as usual!

Sorry things are yuck right now, but I wanted to tell you that your story sort of slapped me in the face and made me realize that I am in the same boat. I reached out to a couple of people with the truth for the first time, and they encouraged me to go immediately to al-anon. I have gone to a couple of meetings and it has been incredible. If you aren't going, start now, you will be glad you did.

I'm so sorry your mom had to hurt Austin because she's mad at you. I have a 15yo boy and when my MIL acts like this it hurts him even if he doesn't say it. I hope your mom reads these comments and decides to be less selfish and more understanding. God bless. I can only guess at the rough time you guys are having now. Praying for you and yours!

Just a quick important comment about your SSO reply about the size of ice-cream today: as Dawn stated there is stil half-gallon sized ice cream out there and that is the only size I buy. I will only shop at a store that provides it and will not do business with any manufacturer that doesn't make half gallon ice cream.

I am so sorry that your mom and grandmother chose to punish your child instead of you. Not that you deserve punishment or anything, but Austin didn't do anything wrong. My dad pulled that one at my sons party in October. Except he wasn't mad at me, he didn't want to come To Dylan's party bc my mom was gonna be there and he didn't wanna deal with that kind of tension. My son was upset.

Great cake! You have talent!!! you are a great mom Dawn, and an inspiration to many. Keep your head up, you are doing the best you can.

OH please teach me! All I wanted for my little girl's first birthday was a minnie mouse cake I found online. Can we say COPYRIGHT?!?! NO ONE would make it for me. so we went to wal-mart to get her cake....so generic! GORGEOUS CAKE!!

Just wanted to send you a (((HUG))) from Texas. I'm sorry that things suck right now. It's even more unfortunate that your Mom has decided to get on her mad at you. Of all the times! Well, keep taking care of yourself and your kids. You are the rock in their life and that's huge! Don't give up, sweetie. Keep smiling, keep laughing, and I'll keep praying for you and your kiddos on my end.

Awesome cake! You are very talented, not to mention patient. My son doesn't like cake much either. We did a big cookie one year. My 5-year old dd's only request this year was a cake that her big sister could eat. She has food allergies and cannot have red dye. It was so sweet. You are in my thoughts and prayers with all that is going on.